LA CROSSE, Wisc., July 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- A.R. Horvath's new novel, "Fidelis," is the first of a seven-book story arc that grapples with humanity's courage and hope in the face of a history of pain and suffering.

"Fidelis" takes place in a not-too-distant or unlikely future, and tells the story of a man crossing the new landscape of an America that has been crippled by disease and ravaged by nuclear strikes, struggling to find his way home. As his journey reveals the horrors and wonders of the altered world, he awakens to realizations about his own soul.

The book wrestles with issues such as truth and propaganda, manhood and bravery, fact, and faith in an adventure story packed with action and suspense.

Horvath, a church worker who became a trucker for a short time, said the series sprang into his mind during his last month on the road when he, like the main character, was separated from his family for long periods of time.

Christians might identify some parallels in Horvath's novel with the themes in the Bible but Horvath points out that his writing is not geared exclusively, or even targeted, for Christian readers.

"It is an exploration of what it means to be human, and an inquiry into what worldview best explains both man's goodness, as well as man's badness," says Horvath. "You would think after this last century, we would not need to be reminded of man's badness, but it seems we do. In the Birth Pangs series, no reminder is necessary, just as after the Holocaust no reminder was necessary."

He continues, "This is one example of where the influence of Rowling, Lewis, and Tolkien come into play. Evil is real in their worlds and there are serious consequences when dealing with it, or ignoring it. Their worlds are not 'they lived happily after' worlds. Good people die and stay dead. But there are things worse than death. And there are things stronger than death, too. The undying hope of the human race requires an explanation and not every worldview succeeds in giving one. The clash of worldviews in the face of societal collapse forms the backdrop to "Fidelis.""

To purchase, learn more, or read a sample, visit Horvath's website www.birthpangs.com. Horvath is also available for interviews and speaking engagements.

Copies of "Fidelis" (ISBN 0979127610) can be obtained through his site, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.